The delegation, however, did get nine bills through the process, including bond bills authorizing $250,000 for the Lower Susquehanna Greenway Trail Development, $100,000 for the Churchville Library Green Building and Science Center, and $650,000 for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Renovation in Harford and Cecil Counties.
Del. Donna Stifler (R-District 35A) and Del. Rick Impallaria (R-District 7) worked diligently to get a bill through which would increase from two to five the number of licenses that may be issued by the Harford County Liquor Control Board to one licensee. This new law makes it possible for a restaurant in Bel Air or elsewhere in the county to open more restaurants throughout the county.
Del. Mary-Dulany James (D-District 34A), took charge in getting the bill passed to allow Harford County to create special taxing districts and issue certain bonds for developing and financing infrastructure improvements if all the owners of real property within the proposed special taxing district petition the county for the creation of the district.
Other delegation bills which passed are: 1) a bill to allow deer hunting on private property on the first Sunday of the bow hunting season in November and the first Sunday of the deer firearms season, and 2) a bill to allow Harford County to pay a claim for a refund of personal property tax without interest within a certain period after the claim is approved if it is determined the refund is a result of a failure to file a report when due or other taxpayer error.
Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R) and Del. Pat McDonough (R-District 7) worked tirelessly on legislation to make our communities more safe. Their continued vigilance really makes a difference on law and order bills.
Much time and energy was spent this session trying to agree on the budget, particularly after the downturn in the economy caused a sharp decline in proposed state revenue.
In the final weekend, the legislature repealed the $200 million sales tax on computer services that members passed in the last minutes of the 2007 Special Session. By a vote of 93 to 44, the House repealed this anti-business tax before it could go into effect on July 1, 2008.
The final budget included $276,228,000 for Harford County, with $20,616,000 going to the municipal government, $11,384,000 to community colleges, $210,827,000 to public schools, $1,744,000 to libraries and $3,186,000 for health care services. The county received a slight increase of 1.1 percent over last year's budget.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me during the interim at P. O. Box 1204, Bel Air, Maryland 21014, at 410 836-9449, 410 838-5187, fax 410 838-5768 or Susan.McComas@house.state.md.us.
Del. Susan McComas District 35B, Bel Air
